BARBADOS MFA FRETS OVER VENEZUELA MARITIME CLAIMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000001 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2023 TAGS: PBTS PREL ETRD MARR XL SUBJECT: BARBADOS MFA FRETS OVER VENEZUELA MARITIME CLAIMS IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN Classified By: Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Brent Hardt, Reas ons 1.4 (b, d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) MFA Maritime and American Affairs Desk Officers expressed lingering concerns over Venezuela's claim to a 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Bird Rock Island (la Isla de Aves) and claims to large maritime blocks within Barbados's EEZ, in recent meetings with Emboffs. Venezuela, they say, has a history of intimidating its smaller neighbors in order to achieve its ends, and the Bird Rock Island case is no exception. Many in the region are wary of confronting Venezuela for fear that it could threaten military force, casting a pall over the region's all important tourism industry. With Barbados in the planning stages for oil exploration in its own EEZ, to include a few blocks contested by Venezuela, the MFA has identified boundary issues as a key focus for the coming year and a primary motivator for improving regional security structures. End Summary. -------------- Bird Rock Island or Bird Rock Islet? -------------- ¶2. (C) MFA Maritime Delimitations Chief Tyronne Braithwaite and MFA American Affairs Desk Officer Joyce Bourne met recently with Emboff to survey the Ministry's priorities for the coming year. Braithwaite explained to Emboff his government's position concerning Venezuela's claim to a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Bird Rock Island (la Isla de Aves). Bird Rock Island is located 353 miles North of Venezuela and 70 miles West of Dominica, measures 580 x 150 meters, and is completely submerged by water at times, according to Braithwaite. The government of Barbados does not dispute Venezuela's ownership claims to the island. However, they do not concur with Venezuela's contention that it is an island under UN Commission on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) definitions. Bird Rock is no more than a sandbar, Braithwaite contended, and as such should be classified as an islet if it deserves any territorial classification at all. If it is an islet, then Venezuela could only claim the 17-mile zone immediately around the islet and would therefore not infringe upon the EEZs of other nations such as Dominica and St. Kitts, he added. -------------- Caracas Bullies Its Neighbors -------------- ¶3. (C) Venezuela has a history of throwing its weight around in the region and assumes that it can bully its neighbors into accepting its demands, Bourne said. She pointed out that the MFA has yet to receive an explanation from Caracas concerning its claims to several blocks within Barbados, EEZ that were recently auctioned off for oil exploration. These blocks are clearly outside the 200-mile zone of any of Venezuela's territory, Braithwaite maintained; however, Caracas, belligerence concerning those blocks scared away any potential bidders from even making oil and gas surveys during their auction last June. ¶4. (C) In 1990, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago signed a treaty delineating the maritime boundary between the two countries. In the treaty, Venezuela laid claim to large sections of Barbados, EEZ with the support of the GOTT. Braithwaite explained that in 2003, Barbados and Trinidad entered into a binding arbitration under the auspices of the UN whereby Trinidad gave up claims to all but a small section of the sea falling into Barbados, EEZ. The arbitration did not speak specifically to Venezuela's claims, as Venezuela is not a signatory to UNCLOS, and the claims lay outside the generally recognized 200-nautical mile zone. -------------- U.S. Support Could be Helpful -------------- ¶5. (C) According to Bourne, many in the region would like to take a firmer stand against Venezuela on its acquisitive regional claims, Bird Rock Island included, but the regional perception is that the U.S. would do little beyond denouncing Venezuelan actions. By contrast, Caracas is aware, she said, that the mere threat of its using military force could cause tourism in the region to fall off precipitously. Coupled with the perception that the United States would do little to back the region, Bourne said Barbados currently has little choice but to acquiesce to Venezuelan demands. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) MFA officials were uncharacteristically open and frank in their discussions with Emboff about their border dispute, on the heels of a similar discussion with Permanent Secretary Teresa Marshal in November where the PS highlighted maritime boundaries as a key focus for the ministry in the New Year. The fact that a usually circumspect Barbados MFA initiated the conversation and shared its views so openly speaks to the seriousness with which they view Venezuelan claims. Sensitivity to the maritime border issue should also be seen as an important motivator for Barbados' interest in developing regional security infrastructure and in bolstering its own coast guard capabilities. With oil prices slipping, development of offshore blocks in the Barbados (or contested) EEZ seems increasingly unlikely, but the irritant of an unsettled border will remain for the foreseeable future. OURISMAN